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What You Need To Know About Emergency Lockouts At Your Commercial Property

22 March 2023

Vilho Kotila

Emergencies can happen at any time, and when they do, they can leave you feeling vulnerable and helpless — and this may be even more true for those with commercial properties because of the potential for them to affect so many people. One of the most common emergencies that commercial property owners may face is a lockout. A lockout can occur for various reasons, including a lost key, a malfunctioning lock, or even an attempted break-in. In any case, it's essential to have a plan in place to handle the situation quickly and efficiently.

Here's how to handle emergency lockouts at your commercial property:

Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

The first step in handling a lockout is to stay calm and assess the situation. Determine how many people are affected by the lockout and what the urgency of the situation is. This information will help you determine your next steps.

Contact a Professional Locksmith

If you don't have a spare key or if the lock is damaged, contact a professional locksmith to help you get back inside your property. Make sure you choose a locksmith with experience in commercial properties. If the lockout has occurred after normal business hours, look for a locksmith who accommodates after-hours service requests. 

Communicate With Tenants and Employees

If the lockout affects tenants or employees, it's essential to communicate with them and provide updates on the situation. Let them know what's happening and when they can expect the issue to be resolved. This will help ease their concerns and ensure they feel informed and involved in the process.

Ensure the Safety of Your Property

While you wait for the locksmith to arrive, it's important to ensure the safety of your property. If the lockout is due to a break-in attempt, it's crucial to check for any signs of forced entry and report it to the authorities. You may also want to consider installing additional security measures to prevent future break-ins.

Ask the Locksmith to Make a Spare Key 

To avoid future lockouts, it's a good idea to have a spare key available. This can be given to trusted employees or stored in a secure location on the property so that you'll be able to easily access the property in the event of future lockouts. Additionally, consider having a backup plan in place for when you're unable to access the spare key. This can include having a trusted locksmith on speed dial or having an emergency lockout kit available on-site.

Contact a commercial locksmith for more information. 

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